A word of thanks for the written encouragement and comments on the blog! I look forward to hearing more from whoever you may be and above all expecting to see some comments relating directly to the posts and whether something is indeed spoken from the Spirit of Christ, or whether what I’ve written is not entirely scriptural. Thanks for those who prayed for the Philippines trip – please continue to pray for the children every so often, as I feel that many of the kids whom we looked after have yet to really know Christ and bear the cross, whilst some have already begun bearing the fruit of the Spirit. Meanwhile, let’s finish off Genesis!

1. The surviving remnant through Jesus Christ alone (Genesis 45)

2. The reunion of Jacob the doubter and Joseph the Christ – the remnant in a foreign land (Genesis 46)

3. Goshen (Genesis 46:31-47:11)

4.Israel’s burial (Genesis 47:12-31)

1. The surviving remnant through Jesus Christ alone (Genesis 45)

Here we begin what is a sequence of responses to Joseph’s apparent ‘resurrection’, his reclaiming the position and glory with his father prior to being sold as a slave.He re-iterates his own identity – “I am Joseph!” (v. 3).This type of proclamation is necessary for the brothers who were unfaithful to him, who hated him, and who had his robe dipped in goat’s blood and effectively killed him.The colourful robe which showed the splendour of his relationship with his father was soiled with the blood of a goat normally used for sacrifice; and in the same way we soil the relationship of splendour between the Father and the Son with our sin which was placed on Christ, and which only His blood can cleanse.

Which is only then unsurprising that “his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence”.Indeed, they are so dismayed because they are convicted with the guilt of a sinner; they are convicted that they were the ones who crucified Joseph.Yet Joseph pre-empts them and rids them of their guilt: “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.”If he stopped there, then he would indeed add weight to their dismay and burden; but he does not, and so he continues (v.5, 7) “…And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life…. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.”

In what way could Joseph preserve the family?Only if he is exalted and placed in a position of responsibility; a position of a ruler of the land – “the lord of all [Pharoah’s] house and ruler over all the land of Egypt”.It is this authority and sovereignty that can preserve the faithful Christian remnant in Canaan.Without which, if Joseph was a mere man who was “brought back to life” and was not exalted nor ascended to a position of glory which reflects that of the colourful robe between him and his father, then there is nothing for Joseph to give.Such is the manner in Jesus’ proclamation to Mary Magdalene – “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father, but go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God”” (John 20:17).

And where does Joseph’s authority come from?Where does his sovereign power in the land of Egypt find its source?From the God who sent him.V. 8-9 explains all: “So it was not you who sent me here, but God.He has made me a father to Pharoah, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, “Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt.Come down to me; do not tarry””.Indeed, such is the good news – that even God can work through our sins for His glory.If it was not for the rejection of Israel’s other sons, then Joseph would not have been sent to the Gentile nation – and in the same way, the rejection of Christ by the Jews effectively sent the gospel to the Gentiles, symbolized by the Egyptians here.But has Joseph rejected his Israelite brothers, being an Israelite himself, just as Christ was?Did Christ reject his Jewish brothers, though he preached a message that benefited both Jews and Gentiles alike?As Paul writes in Romans 11 – “By no means!”

v.7 of Romans 11 continues to explain: “What then?Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking.The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened” – who is the Elect One except for Christ himself, elected and sent to do the work of the Father?Elected and sent to be risen to glory and to be the captain and King, to bring with him his Jewish and Gentiles brothers to shelter away from the global famine of desperation and death? And it is in the elect that the Israelites did not receive a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see, nor ears that would not hear… though it is unfortunate that many of the other Israelites failed to be in the Elect One.In the same way, God had used Joseph’s brothers stumbling in previous chapters for His glory.Romans 11:11-12 continues – “Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!”.

It is in this way that God glorifies Himself through the trespasses which sold Joseph, the type of Christ, into the world, and that the gospel is given to the Gentile Egyptians first and yet the fullness of the nation Israel is even further magnified!How so?V.7 has already exposed this: “To preserve for (Israel) a remnant on earth, and to keep for your many survivors!The detail as to how many will be revealed in the next few chapters.

And so from v. 16-20 we receive the Pharoah’s positive reaction to Joseph’s brothers entering a Gentile land.His response is not that of division – but he welcomes them.What a far cry from Moses’ temporary father in Egypt!Rather, the Gentiles and Jews had lived side by side, and furthermore had been blessed through the Gentiles.This further enforces the point in Romans 11 – “if their (the Jews’) trespass means riches for the world (Egypt in this context), and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles (food which is stored and sold from Egypt), how much more will their full inclusion mean!”.Yes, and the full inclusion has been typified and has begun in this story of Joseph.

Evangelism

So, v. 21-24 is a picture of the evangelistic commission – “Do not quarrel on the way” (v.24) and “have no concern for your goods, for the best of the land of Egypt is yours” (v. 20).Indeed, as Christians we should not quarrel along the way when we wish to spread the Great Gospel to the ends of the earth, to our own brothers and sisters, to our own mothers and fathers.We should unite and tell of the great news of where the bread is found in a time of famine, but how rare that is!How easy it is for the brothers to stop and think that Joseph is a liar, a lunatic or is indeed who he proclaims to be.How easy it is for them to tarry, to wait around and eventually have Jacob/Israel die on them whilst they take their time and do not take evangelism seriously?Joseph gives the typified mandate – “Do not quarrel on the way”.So we should also learn to not quarrel, but learn to discern and discuss the truth without losing the sense of urgency caused by the power of the famine, yet also the sense of sovereignty and protection from Joseph’s words for the brothers need not find their security in the goods given to them.Rather, these goods are temporary provisions – the real meat, the real deal, the real goal is the land.We should therefore set our sights on the higher throne (Rev 7:9-17), rather than worry about our own possessions in the meanwhile.

When the gospel of Joseph’s effective resurrection was given to Jacob, Jacob’s “heart became numb, for he did not believe them”.Such is the response of many Christians in Jesus’ incarnate days – many did not believe.Many were astounded.As Jesus responded: “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken of!26Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26).Indeed.O foolish Jacob!You who kept your son Joseph’s dream in mind, the prophecy of his leadership over his 11 brothers… was it not necessary that Joseph should suffer these things and enter into his prophesied glory?But this doubting Thomas had his fears and doubts removed when he saw the glory and gifts given to the brothers.His brothers were indeed “witnesses of these things”.Just as Christ said to his disciples: “And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you.But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:44-49).So Joseph had given them wagons, according to the command of Pharoah, and gave them provisions for the journey – change of clothes, money, donkeys, good things of Egypt, grain, bread, and provision… these are just a few things which God has blessed his brothers with, as a testimony to God’s grace and righteousness.Jacob, the type of the doubter, ceases his doubt when he sees his sons clothed by the gifts of the Pharoah – and it is by these visible outwards signs of the good news of Joseph’s return that he is convinced and that his spirit revived.Jacob is absolutely thrilled – “I will go and see him before I die” (v.28).Though he is old, he is willing.Such is the type of necessity that every aged man and woman should express, if they too are carrying the cross of Christ and looking forward to his great return.

2. The reunion of Jacob the doubter and Joseph the Christ – the remnant in a foreign land (Genesis 46)

This chapter is actually quite interesting.Unlike the normal genealogy, we have an establishment of the number of people who entered Egypt.33 + 16 + 14 + 7 = 70 people in total (v. 25), 66 not including Jacob’s sons’ wives.This is definitely very different from the Exodus 12:37 – six hundred thousand people (including, of course, the Egyptians who converted to Christianity) compared to 70 Jews.Within a space of 430 years, and assuming that a new generation is spawned every 30 or 40 years, we are expecting about 10 to 20 generations from Joseph’s death to the great Exodus.This would mean that 30,000 to 60,000 on average were the numbers added to the church of Christ each generation, without taking into account the exceptionally huge numbers of converts probably during the time of the famine and during the time of the plagues in Exodus.This, indeed, is a fulfillment of God’s prophecy – many are indeed added to the house of Israel who will return to Canaan eventually.

I have prepared a lineal table here showing those who entered Egypt in this period (to be uploaded later!). Note the little detail about Er and Onan in v. 11 – such is indeed odd, given that the type of Scriptural utterances concerning people’s burials in Israel are often those of righteous men and women.Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah are all such examples.But then there are those who were probably buried elsewhere – Lot, and Joseph who were buried outside of Canaan.I think this is the type of detail which displays the symbolic nature of Canaan.Canaan is indeed a place which points towards the true Promised Land, but in itself, it is not the promised land.That is why Er and Onan’s death there makes no difference; their belonging may be found in Canaan, but their hearts are found in Babylon.Contrarily, Lot and Joseph are men in Christ, buried outside of Canaan.Even the focus of Joseph’s marriage to the daughter of Potiphera displays an inclusion of these Jewish-Egyptian children, Manasseh and Ephraim, into the covenant people.Thus, this chapter works to focus on the spiritual covenant people found to be the wanderers of Egypt and Canaan, but it is not their physical heritage (e.g. Er and Onan) which will enable them to receive their promised inheritance.

3. Goshen (Genesis 46:31-47:11)

“…for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians” (Gen 46:34).Now, why does Joseph want to maintain the shepherd culture of the Jews even in foreign land?This is an interesting portrayal of the light not mixing with the dark.Indeed, we are in the world, but not of it – and here, Joseph wishes to maintain not simply Israel’s cultural, but their very spiritual identity.Would Israel aim to be accepted into Egypt at the cost of losing their identity in the Great Shepherd King?Or would Israel aim to live in Egypt, in the land of Goshen, whilst compromising their Christian values? Daniel surely did not forsake his ways… and it seems that the Christians entering Egypt are not aiming to do so either.

Pharoah’s response is likely that of a Christian – “Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock”.This land will be the same land that the Israelites will be living in – Exodus 8:22 and 9:26 show God’s protection over the land of Goshen from the plagues because that is where the Israelites dwelled. This is not only some land… but it is the best land. The Egyptians have no excuse by the time of Exodus to enslave the Israelites. They could have peered into their own historical annals to find out why the Israelites had been part of Egypt, and why they lived in Goshen, the best land even among a Gentile nation.

For it is the very same reason the remnant of Israel receives the same blessings wherever they go – for the church is found not in the location, but in the people. The church of Christ, the synagogue, the assembly, the congregation is what God is protecting. Their congregation at Goshen, at Canaan, are examples and foresights of God’s people inheriting the true land to which they look forward to. The nature of the church in Goshen is very different to the nature of the church in Sodom and Gomorrah. The former inherits the blessing of the land, because that is where God wants them to go by the command of the Pharoah who is effectively an obedient agent of our LORD in these chapters. The latter does not inherit the blessing of the land, is hated by both Christians and non-Christians for being lukewarm, failed to evangelise to neighbours and yet mingled and lived with the Sodomites like he was one of them. Lot may be saved, but he is not a picture of a man walking by the Spirit persistently; Israel and others do not forget the Promised Land which Canaan witnesses to. People should flock to God, to the Promised land. People should flock to Canaan. God’s people may go out to other lands, may be blessed in other lands, but eventually they should go back to Canaan. Such is the same story for us – we find our solace in flocking to Christ, our Sabbath, in new Jerusalem sitting at the right hand of the Father. And Christ sent us out to the people, to the lands, to mission fields in law firms, banks, offices, rural areas, paddy fields whatever the location may be… and God blesses us there. He will give us the best, in spite of difficulties which will face us (Genesis 15:13)… which is why we continually look not on our Goshens in life, we do not look to our possessions for security (Genesis 45:20), because even those things will fail us. The juxtaposition of the first half of chapter 47, speaking of the glory of Goshen, placed next to the second half of chapter 47 which speaks of how the Israelites were protected in the land of Goshen – that during this period both the priests in Egypt and the Israelites still flourished. v.27 of chapter 47 reveals that Israel thus settled there, and still gained possessions in it, were fruitful and multiplied. How can they be fruitful and multiply by the tens of thousands during this period? This clearly shouts out the hand of God over this faithful but entirely weak nomadic nation.

4.Israel’s burial (Genesis 47:12-31)

By the end of chapter 47, Joseph had made “servants of them (all the Egyptians) from one end of Egypt to the other.” (v.21) Only the land of the priests he did not buy, for they had a fixed allowance. There is interestingly a refrain in the latter part of Genesis 47 – “the land of the priests alone did not become Pharoah’s” (v.22, v.26). Thus, only the priests and Israel found favour during this horrible 7-year period.

But why does Israel maintain his position to leave Egypt and return to Canaan, despite being there for a full 17 years? Joseph swore to Israel that he would bury him in Canaan, but why?

Hebrews 11:21 sheds some light on the matter: “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshipped as he leaned on the top of his staff”. Israel’s death is a faithful one where he knows where he goes, to the place where he would be gathered with his people in the true Eden. He is going to where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah were buried, and he ensures that his descendants will not forget their inheritance by asking to be buried in Canaan, the mock-promised land. His worries in chapters 42-45 about a lonely death is no longer present; instead, he gets to relay his message to Joseph, and to his 12 sons with their sons and daughters. What a magnificent turn of events! We’ve already spoken of the significance of the staff in previous entries, paraphrasing Justin Martyr that it is a foretelling of the cross on which Jesus died. It is a symbol of guidance for lost sheep, yet it can also effectively act as the rod of punishment; or it can be a measuring rod shaped like a staff (Rev 11:1) – and none of this contradicts the power of the cross, which is also a guidance and security for us sheep; a picture of punishment for those who are threatened by its power (e.g. Satan) by nailing sin to the wood of the tree, or a measuring rod outlining the very re-created city in which we live. This indeed is a very powerful image – and no wonder such a small detail is included in the Spirit-inspired Scriptures. Who cares if he leans on a staff? But if this ‘staff’ represents the very power of the cross on which our Christ is crucified, then indeed Jacob leans on the cross of Christ as his security that he is buried in Canaan, and raised up to New Jerusalem along with the other saints of old.